46/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2647c — Do Good Deeds Despite Destiny
How The Human Being Is Created, In His Mother's Womb, And His Provision, Lifespan And Deeds Are Written Down, And His Misery and Happiness
Hadith About Doing Good Deeds Despite Destiny
Sahih Muslim : 2647c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2647c
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَأَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ جَالِسًا وَفِي يَدِهِ عُودٌ يَنْكُتُ بِهِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ " مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ عُلِمَ مَنْزِلُهَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَلِمَ نَعْمَلُ أَفَلاَ نَتَّكِلُ قَالَ " لاَ . اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ لِمَا خُلِقَ لَهُ " . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ { فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى * وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَى}
'Ali Narrated from:
One day Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting with a wood in his hand and he was scratching the ground. He raised his head and said: There is not one amongst you who has not been allotted his seat in Paradise or Hell. They said: Allah's Messenger. then, why should we perform good deeds, why not depend upon our destiny?Thereupon he said. No, do perform good deeds, for everyone is facilitated in that for which he has been created; then he recited this verse:" Then, who gives to the needy and guards against evil and accepts the excellent (the truth of Islam and the path of righteousness it prescribes), We shall make easy for him the easy end..." (xcii. 5-10).
[2] Al-Lail 92:5-10.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2647cIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6400
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2647c
This hadith about destiny and good deeds gives a direct answer to a common question. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that every person’s place in Paradise or Hell is already known. The Companions asked why they should work and whether they should simply depend on destiny. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no, and told them to do good deeds. He explained that everyone is made easy for what they were created for, then recited verses about giving, fearing Allah, accepting the good, and the opposite path. The hadith teaches a balanced lesson: Allah’s knowledge is complete, but the believer’s duty is still to act. Destiny is not a reason to stop worship or good conduct.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rejected using destiny as a reason to stop acting.
- People are told to do good deeds even though Allah knows their end.
- The recited verses connect the easy path with giving, piety, and truth.
- Belief in qadar should not lead to passivity.
